Have you ever considered what life would be like if you were a famous horse? Turns out, it’s not that dissimilar to your typical human fame. On Berlin-based producer horsegiirL’s newest project, she opens with the line “Baby, money, fame and power really changed me”. Since first going viral a couple of years ago, the artist – who identifies as a horse – has been galloping across stages worldwide, including our very own Dazed 100 party at the end of last year.
Equal parts enigmatic and irreverent, she’s built a world where hyperpop, gabber and hardstyle collide. Masked behind her signature horse head, horsegiirL’s experimental sound has made her more than just a quick viral sensation. Her latest EP, V.I.P. – Very Important Pony, is a six-track exploration of maximalist beats and frenetic energy, blending euphoric melodies with tongue-in-cheek nods to her love of pop culture. Coming off the success of her Hayfever tour – a series of sold-out shows, inflatable stage props, and dedicated “farmies” – she speaks to us about the process behind creating the EP, her favourite horse and the future of club music.
Congrats on the EP! How are you feeling about it being out in the world?
horsegiirL: I always feel like the closer it gets to the actual release, the less I’m nervous. It’s just this mountain of work that is just about to come to an end. It’s almost the last leg of just pushing through. I’m obviously super excited for everyone to hear it, but I’m so ready to just have it out there in the world and share it and also work on something new.
What was the kind of starting point for this EP for you? Could you talk us through the inspirations behind the tracks?
horsegiirL: I think the first track actually was “materiaL hor$e” and it set the tone for the rest of the EP. It was the first track I wrote and was like, ‘OK, I really think this is like a new direction’. A lot of it was written on the road, in different countries [during] different seasons, so I hope it still makes sense and comes together well as a body of work.
Your career has skyrocketed over the past year. How does it feel?
horsegiirL: I definitely did not expect humanity to go so crazy over a horse, but it’s still crazy to me and I’m very grateful for it. I think just seeing how many of my fans just seem to be so creative in their approach when they come to the shows, that’s always still surprising and amazing to me, seeing what they come up with for outfits and little trinkets that they bring, build and draw.
One of the songs on the EP is “eat, sleep, slay, repeat”. What is the key to surviving your tour schedule and lifestyle?
horsegiirL: I don’t drink when I’m touring. There will be some days at the end of a tour or on a special occasion where I will drink something, but that’s number one for staying, for slaying and for keeping the sleigh alive. I also try to sleep enough and I always try to squeeze in a little run or a little gallop prior to a show just to let the adrenaline out of my body a little bit, because there’s a lot of pent-up energy.
You DJ a lot too. How do you find producing versus DJing?
horsegiirL: They’re completely different energies. By nature I’m more on the shy side, so I would say the studio because it’s a safe space. You get to just be creative and it’s so much about trust. When you work alone it’s just you, but also when you work with others, it’s so much about trust and being able to show yourself, be vulnerable and just allow yourself to try out ideas and have fun without the fear of being judged. I love touring as well. I love that immediate reaction if I have a new track and I get to play it and see how the crowd reacts to it but it’s a lot more nerve-wracking for me. I think the balance is key.
What do you think is the future of electronic music?
horsegiirL: I think what really excites me is just the sheer amount of new genres that are just being incorporated into the mainstream. There’s much more music from the global south coming into club spaces in the western world and I think that’s needed. I don’t think lineups represent the sheer amount of diversity that club culture and dance culture really have. So that’s really exciting, the reclaiming of some of those genres. Those genres [used to] stand for a certain toxicity, where people – specifically black female singers – would be exploited for their vocals and never paid. Seeing that being reclaimed by a younger generation that is way more aware and inclusive is just amazing. That’s what I’m really excited about, just hearing Reggaeton and Amapiano and all of these really cool booty shake beats in places.
What do you think horses could teach humans? And vice versa?
horsegiirL: Less bureaucracy, less taxes, more frolicking around in nature with no restraints, letting your mane down, having a good time. Humans cook pretty well. I feel like food is much more advanced in the human world compared to what we would usually go for.
If you could be half any other animal except a horse, what would it be?
horsegiirL: Definitely something between either a water animal like a dolphin or a whale, because then it could be half on land. Or an animal that’s in the sky that can fly, like an eagle or a crow.
Do you have a favourite pop culture horse? Have you ever watched Bojack Horseman, for instance?
horsegiirL: Yeah. Maybe not so much in pop culture, but [my favourite horse is] very famous: Muhamed, the mathematician horse from 1910. An absolute icon [who] broke lots of calculus records and showed the world that we can be very smart too.
After this release of your EP, what are you looking forward to?
horsegiirL: I would love to work on an album eventually and just have a larger body of work that I can pour all of my effort and ambitions into. Hopefully next year I can take that off the bucket list. Besides that, I’m pretty content. I love that I get to do what I do and am excited to continue doing it.
V.I.P. is out now, listen here.
